Still from a timelapse of a four-alarm fire in Ogden near 28th and Grant that started late in the evening on June 28, 2021. (Narsario Silva)
OGDEN, Utah — A fire sparked in Ogden late last night at an apartment building that was under construction. The flames quickly spread to destroy the site along with 5 homes, 3 businesses, and a vehicle near 28th Street and Grant.
Fire officials say that two people and a firefighter were taken to the hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation but no lives were lost.
The massive flames were captured on video by Ogden resident Kaylan Hunt and the heat put off by this fire initially stopped firefighters from being able to get into the building.
“We had two fire trucks, two latter trucks, that had set up to try and put the apartment complex fire out, and they had to actually back up, one backed east, one backed west because the radiant heat was melting their fire apparatus. Our battalion chief was at the corner of 28th and Grant had to back up as well because his lights melted,” Ogden Fire Deputy Chief Shelby Willis told reporters.
Willis said this is the second-largest fire she’s aware of in the Ogden area.
“We had five different fire departments and over 70 firefighters 22 fire apparatus. It took the entire county to work this fire from 10:30 last night until roughly about 6:30 this morning. The amazing thing is that we had two civilians that were injured with minor injuries and a firefighter with minor injuries only, so we’re very grateful that everybody went home safe,” she said.
Willis said they are questioning a woman who is a person of interest, but at this time she said they do not know if or how she may be connected to the fires last night.
The initial cause for the fire that they believe started at the construction site is unknown at this time. Willis said it may be a few days as investigators comb the sites for evidence. At this time they estimate the damage to be in the $3 million range.
This story will be updated.
(videos courtesy of Kylan Hunt)